The History Behind The Little Girl And Her Love For Animals
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| Her love for dogs started at a very young age. |
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Linda was born 1n 1959 in Milwaukee, WI. Born to Anthony and Catherine Kilvinger.
Not soon after, they moved to Kansas City, MO were Linda and her family raised Collies and German Shorthair Pointers.
Linda's dad was an avid hunter and sports enthusiast and would raise his GSP's for hunting birds. Her mom Kate, would raise the collies for companions (so she thought). The neighbor across the street had better ideas for Linda and her dogs. Why not show them?
Linda and her mom and the neighbor lady drove to town and got entered in the Kennel Ration Dog Show (you remember the one...."My dogs better than your dog......my dogs better than yours......my dogs better cause he eats KENNEL RATION.....my dogs better than yours.") Linda and her dog Dixie were the youngest contestants there and won in their class.
Little did she know at the time, but this was the start of something grand.
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| First Purebred Show Dog "Dixie" |
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| The bond between Linda and her collie Dixie lasted for 14 years. |
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The love for animals ran in the family......
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| Grandma, Mom and Linda with Dutchess and Dixie |
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| Dad and Dutches asleep on the couch |
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| Hey mom....can I please take it home? |
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| We were a very sharing family.....think they knew this? |
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| She had a way with animals...... |
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| Always had them eating out of her hands..... |
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| Like mother like daughter...how many can we keep? |
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| Always seemed to get a puppy at Christmas amoungst other things... |
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| Use to dress up her dogs even before in was in style...just think of the money we could of made. |
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| Not only could she train dogs...but look at Henry her hamster |
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| Every vacation our dogs would go with us...even to the beach |
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| An every day sight with Linda and her dogs |
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The Teenage Years
Linda's mother passed away when she was 10. It was a big change for her now that she only had her dad. There was much more responsibility now.
During Linda's 8th grade year, her dad married a wonderful lady named Vicki. What a god send this woman was and is to this day. To walk into an already made family and take on what she did was remarkable. We became best of friends, along with the love of animals. We are still very very close today.
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| Got my first horse "BART" |
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| This was Coco...Vicki's dog, but we still had a bond |
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| And so advanced her love for training dogs. |
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| And a new horse named Inteza |
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Growing up and moving out......life without a dog?
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| Moving out is hard on its own, but now without a dog. My mom bought my roommate and I each a stuffed dog for Christmas. |
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| And another stuffed dog at Christmas. |
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| Raising and showing Cocker Spaniels was now the focus |
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| Mikey was her next up and coming show pup...until someone stole him from her backyard. |
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Back in the Show Ring once again......
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Moving to Arizona and out with the hair......in with the braun...
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| Artist's Anti-Up of Vintage "WAGER" |
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Linda spent 4 years with the Boxer Club of Arizona, 2 of which was as the Club's Secretary. During those 4 years, she and her family started up the Arizona Boxer Rescue, which kept them busy 24/7.
During this time, she partnered with other rescues in the Arizona/California area and were able to place approximately 400 boxers a year. This was a staggering number of dogs.
With all of this time spent, the showing prospect dwindled to nothing because she was needed at home and at the kennel most of her days and nights.
In 2002, Linda and her family had decided that they were going to pass the rescue off to the other local rescues and to retire her boxer Wager, who had a bad episode with valley fever, and to then focus on family and get back in the show ring with a new breed.
In 2000, their family was blessed with a dog that at that time they never dreamed would change the way they lived and loved. At a local Cutting Horse Show, where they had one of their horses in training, there happen to be a breeder there of Australian Shepherds that had a raffle going on. Little to our knowledge, Hayden now 8 years old, decided she was going to put in for the raffle without us knowing. Guess what????? She won and we brought home a beautiful blue merle pup named VCR's Snickerdoodle Delight, better known as SNICKERS. The rest is history. He was our first aussie and we new we had the breed that best suited our family and the life we wanted to lead.
Since then you can find Linda and Hayden showing in the AKC and ASCA rings with their Aussies and Corgi's, and in the AKC rings with other breeds as well. They have been handling many other breeds for other clients as well.
Recently Hayden is back home showing dogs with her mom after being on the road for 3 years with some of the top professional handlers in the country. We look forward to getting back into our dogs and getting them finished along with some of our client dogs. Check out our SHOW NEWS and come on along for the ride. We would enjoy hearing from you.
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| and so..... VINTAGE COLORED RANCH AUSSIES was born...... |
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| FIND US IN "PUPPIES USA 2007-2008 EDITION |
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